Closure of the Bank branch of the Northern Line

Caroline Pidgeon: Following the closure of the Bank branch of the Northern line, from Kennington to Moorgate for 17 weeks from January 2022 to facilitate the final stages of work on Bank station, what alterations will TfL be undertaking to bus routes?

The Mayor: The closure of Bank station is crucial to enabling the Bank Station Capacity Upgrade which will increase the station’s capacity by 40 per cent when completed in late 2022. Transport for London (TfL) has undertaken detailed modelling to assess the impact of this closure and to identify the best alternative routes for customers. The modelling shows that TfL will be able to provide all customers with a planned alternative route, with passengers able to complete their journeys by other Tube, rail, bus, walking and cycling routes.
TfL will be providing additional bus capacity with atemporarynew route from Oval into the City (route 733). This service will be in operation Monday to Friday for the duration of the 17 weeks. In addition to the new bus route, TfL will also:
Work with National Rail and Train Operating Companies to promote alternative National Rail services, such as Waterloo to London Bridge, and London Bridge to Cannon Street where possible;
Deploy additional staff to provide support to customers;
Encourage active travel options by developing and publicising alternative walking routes and investigating additional walkway space on key corridors; and
Run a comprehensive communications campaign to provide detailed travel advice to customers.

Impact of the ULEZ on cemetery visitors

Caroline Pidgeon: Will you consider a reimbursement scheme of the ULEZ charge for recently bereaved relatives who need to visit at cemetery within the expanded ULEZ zone, such as Old Mortlake Burial Ground.

The Mayor: The expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is a vital measure to help improve London’s air quality, and allcar owners need to play their part. The large majority of visitors who drive to cemeteries within the expanded zone will be unaffected by the new emissions standards: four out of five cars driven in the expanded zone are already compliant. In addition, those in receipt of income or disability benefits are still able to access scrappage grants to help them replace their older vehicles, while vehicles registered in the ‘disabled’ or ‘disabled passenger’ tax class remain exempt from ULEZuntil 26 October 2025. There are no plans for further reimbursement schemes at this time.

Van scrappage scheme

Caroline Pidgeon: TfL’s website still refers to the van scrappage scheme as being currently suspended for van applications, suggesting that it might be restored. As it is only two months until the extension of the ULEZ and the removal of the grace period for people living within the current ULEZ area will you clarify whether the van scrappage scheme will be restored to assist small businesses?

The Mayor: I haveallocated £61m to scrappage schemes which support low-income and disabled Londoners, small businesses and charities in switching to cleaner vehicles and greener forms of transport.The scrappage scheme forvans and minibuses has supported the scrapping ofover 5,200 vehicles.
The schemes have been hugely popular.Due to unprecedented demand and limitedfunds,we suspended the van scrappage scheme on 28 August 2020.Given their vital role in our communities during the recovery, charities can continue to access funding to scrap minibuses.
At present we do not have sufficient funds to reopen the van scrappage scheme. However, some of the additional funding secured for scrappage schemes is being allocated to previous applications for thevanschemethat TfL wasunable to process at the time of application due to limited funds.I continuetoseekfurther funding from government to support this scheme andto lobby government to fund a national scrappage scheme.

GTR services

Caroline Pidgeon: Following the welcome decision to include Thameslink on the Tube map will you take steps to remind GTR that its timetable should not be savagely cut as has happened during August, where its reduction in its timetable service was far greater than the reduced service offered by other train operators.

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) maintains a close working relationship with Train Operating Companies serving the London area, as well as the Department for Transport (DfT), Network Rail and other industry partners, particularly on long term and strategic planning issues.
I understand the reduced service introduced by Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) on 26 July 2021 was a direct response to the impact of the “pingdemic”, with a reduced but planned timetable considered to be less disruptive to customers than ad-hoc cancellations which were occurring on an increasing basis. GTR expects to increase the number of services operating from 6 September 2021 although they acknowledge some individual routes will continue to see reduced frequencies due to ongoing staff sickness, isolation requirements, delayed treatment for other conditions, and a training backlog.
In the longer term, decisions regarding service provision on the National Rail network will transfer from the DfT to the new arms-length body Great British Railways, which will work closely with local and regional stakeholders and authorities (including TfL) through the ‘London and the South East Regional Partnership’. There is currently no detail available on the nature of this partnership governance.

Publication of up-to-date information on the risk of catching Covid on the train

Caroline Pidgeon: Do you support the call by London Travelwatch for RSSB (the Rail Safety and Standards Board) to publish in full the most recent information it holds on the risk of catching Covid by train? Please also set out whether you entered into any correspondence in support of this information being publicly available.

The Mayor: Throughout the pandemic, Transport for London (TfL) has regularly liaised with the RSSB as an important source of rail safety information. I understand they have supported TfL’s response to the pandemic when asked. Any decisions to publish the research which models risks of catching Covid on the train are to be made by the RSSB as it is their research.
Throughout the pandemic, TfL and I have worked hard to ensure that covid-related risk information is in the public domain, whether that is by publishing TfL’s risk assessments on its website or whether it is commissioning detailed research from University College London’s Institute of Health Ethics into the factors related to bus driver deaths from Covid-19. Since September 2020, TfL has also commissioned Imperial College London to undertake monthly sampling for Covid on the transport network, including heavily touched areas. None of the tests have found any traces of the virus on the TfL network. In addition to this, TfL adopted a range of cleaning techniques from early in the pandemic to reduce risk, such as using new hospital-grade cleaning substances and piloting new technology such as UV light sanitising units on handrails at London Underground stations.

Holborn Gyratory

Caroline Pidgeon: Please provide an update on (a) TfL’s investigation into the recent fatality at Holborn Gyratrory, and (b) the exact timescale for vital improvements to be made at this junction.

The Mayor: I was deeply saddened to learn of the fatal collision last month that occurred when Dr Krawiec was cycling to work. My thoughts go out to her family, friends and patients on whom she had a profound impact.
Tackling the dangers that tragically result in road collisions, with lives lost and serious injuries sustained, is central to my Transport Strategy.
This is why we have adopted the ambitious goal of Vision Zero, which is the elimination of all deaths and serious injuries from London’s streets by 2041. We have also published London’s first Vision Zero action plan, alongside Transport for London (TfL) and the Metropolitan Police Service, which sets out our ambitious programme to end the toll of deaths and serious injuries on our streets.
To achieve the aim of my Transport Strategy for 80 per cent of journeys to be made by sustainable modes of transport (public transport, walking and cycling) by 2041, we must continue to make roads safer for people walking and cycling.
Following thetragicfatality atHolborn Gyratory, I asked TfL officers to urgently meet with the London Borough of Camden to agree what can be done quickly in the interim to improve safety at the junction ahead of delivering the full scheme.As the junction is positioned on LB Camden’s highway, the borough is leading on the potential short-term proposals using TfL funding.
A three staged delivery approach to tackling safety for people cycling through this junction is proposed as follows:
Short term: an immediate response will see junction improvements implemented in September. Improvements are expected to include, but are not limited to, the implementation of an Advanced Cycle Stop line.
Medium term: more permanent junction changes will be introduced, including potential kerb line and signal infrastructure changes. Design options are currently being explored, with a preferred option being selected in September. Implementation of this phase should begin before the end of the year.
Long term: large scale junction and area improvements, led by LB Camden as part of their Liveable Neighbourhood proposals, will be introduced. Timescales for implementation are anticipated to be two years but the location is a complex, busy central London junction and it may be that further changes can be developed and delivered in stages to address problems as quickly as possible. The longer-term solution will be subject to TfL’s future funding agreement with government.

Transport infrastructure affected by flooding

Siân Berry: Since your answer to 2019/19667, there have been several new occurrences of flooding to infrastructure operated by Transport for London (TfL). Can you list for the last two years since that answer: a) what stations or other transport infrastructure were closed due to flooding, b) how long they were closed, and c) the dates they were closed?

The Mayor: The attached appendix shows the Transport for London stations that have been closed as a result of flooding over the last two years.
Please note that as well as surface water flooding, this list includes incidents where stations were closed as a result of a third party, for example due to a burst water main or a leak in an adjacent property.

The Mayor: 2021 3276 attachment.xlsx

Publication of review of flood risks

Siân Berry: Will you publish the 2016 London Underground Comprehensive Review of Flood Risks, and subsequent work on surface water flooding by Transport for London (TfL), and if not will you explain what prevents you from sharing it?

The Mayor: The London Underground Comprehensive Review of Flood Risk (2016) contains information on infrastructure which could pose a safety and business risk if this were in the public domain. The report also contains information on utilities infrastructure within the Greater London area, which TfL does not have permission to publish.
TfL will review the potential for future work on surface water flood risk to be published, bearing in mind safety, commercial and data licensing constraints.

Speed limits on Thames crossings

Siân Berry: What are the current speed limits for each road bridge across the Thames, and when did they last change?

The Mayor: Please find attached a table of current speed limits for each road bridge across the Thames. This data is collated in conjunction with London boroughs. In past years where there is a split by borough boundaries, this is reflected in the table by two speed limits.

The Mayor: 2021 3274 attachment.xlsx

Analysis of walking and cycling crossings of Thames

Siân Berry: Can you share the most recent assessment by Transport for London (TFL) of gaps between crossings of the Thames for people walking and cycling?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) regularly undertakes analysis to look at access and connectivity across London. This includes analysing how the ability to cross the river Thames affects journeys, especially for pedestrians and cyclists. This analysis supports TfL’s projects and policy work.
TfL has not recently published any specific assessment on river crossings. However, TfL’s general analysis on walking and cycling is set out on the TfL website here:
https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/about-tfl/how-we-work/planning-for-the-future/encouraging-cycling-and-walking.

Lower Thames Crossing

Siân Berry: What involvement has Transport for London (TfL) had in the proposed Lower Thames Crossing, which is now budgeted at £6.3bn, and are you supporting this proposed new motorway?

The Mayor: The Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) scheme is being promoted by National Highways (formerly Highways England). The proposed crossing lies entirely outside Greater London, running between Tilbury and Gravesend, but the scheme has potential impacts for London in terms of the wider traffic flows. There is also a limited interaction with the Transport for London Road Network (TLRN) where the scheme connects into the M25. TfL is meeting regularly with National Highways to understand the impacts for London and ensure any issues are addressed, as well as to safeguard TfL assets.
TfL has responded to the three previous LTC consultations and will respond to the live non-statutory consultation that closes on 8 September. TfL understands that National Highways plans to resubmit its Development Consent Order (DCO) application for the scheme by the end of the year. TfL has asked National Highways to make available outstanding information in relation to the transport and environmental impacts of the scheme in advance of its DCO submission.

Action to reach Vision Zero goal (2)

Siân Berry: Thank you for your answer to my question 2021/1473, has Transport for London (TfL) now drafted the plan to which you referred which would accelerate work on vision zero and improve safety at the most dangerous junctions?

The Mayor: TfL is currently drafting an update to the Vision Zero action plan which is due to be published later this year. This will include a number of actions against each of the safe system pillars, including my manifesto commitments to accelerate the roll out of 20 mph speed limits on the TfL road network and to improve the safety of the most dangerous junctions. Where the plan relies on capital investment, continued delivery of safety improvements is dependent on TfL’s future funding arrangements.

TfL and Network Rail engineering work over the Christmas period

Caroline Pidgeon: Please provide an update on the negotiations between Network Rail and TfL over engineering work on rail routes to Heathrow airport? Can you provide an assurance that Tube and rail routes will not be simultaneously out of operation on Boxing Day? Please also provide an update on the specific provision that will be in place for people with accessibility needs.

The Mayor: Following extensive discussions, it has not been possible to postpone either Transport for London (TfL) or Network Rail engineering works due to take place on 26 December 2021. The Network Rail works include the tracks used by the TfL Rail service to Heathrow. Undertaking longer, more intensive works during the festive period helps to minimise the impact to customers as demand across the rail network is significantly reduced.
The seven-day closure of the Piccadilly line is part of a series of critical works to enable the introduction of new Piccadilly line trains due to commence in 2024. The works include the renewal of 10 sets of points and crossings and the provision of two new additional sidings in the Northfields area.
Low floor buses or accessible coaches will be available for customers needing to travel to Heathrow. There will be a direct coach service from Hammersmith to both Heathrow Central (Terminals 2 and 3) and Heathrow Terminal 5. Coaches on each service will run every five minutes. Porters will be on hand to load and unload luggage on coaches and to assist with luggage on the stairs at Hammersmith Underground station.
Detailed travel advice will be communicated to customers and stakeholders closer to the time. TfL is not yet aware of how Great Western Railway plans to support pre-booked assistance customers.